<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2021-03-02</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001024725</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TENNECO INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TEN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000921669</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ICAHN CARL C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ICAHN ENTERPRISES L.P.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>16690 COLLINS AVENUE - PH-1</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SUNNY ISLES BEACH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33160</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001034563</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ICAHN ENTERPRISES HOLDINGS L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>16690 COLLINS AVENUE - PH-1</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SUNNY ISLES BEACH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33160</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001257324</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ICAHN ENTERPRISES G.P. INC.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>16690 COLLINS AVENUE PH-1</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SUNNY ISLES BEACH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33160</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001080113</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BECKTON CORP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>16690 COLLINS AVENUE PH-1</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SUNNY ISLES BEACH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33160</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2021-03-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>336244</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>11.61</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6717999</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Please see footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2021-03-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>277225</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>11.70</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6440774</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Please see footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2021-03-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>559440</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>10.98</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5881334</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Please see footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Icahn Enterprises Holdings L.P. (&quot;Icahn Enterprises Holdings&quot;) is the direct beneficial owner of (i) 5,881,334 shares of Class A Common Stock and (ii) 15,025,526 shares of Class B Common Stock. Beckton Corp. (&quot;Beckton&quot;) is the sole stockholder of Icahn Enterprises G.P. Inc. (&quot;Icahn Enterprises GP&quot;), which is the general partner of Icahn Enterprises Holdings. Mr. Icahn is the sole stockholder of Beckton.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">In addition, Mr. Icahn is the indirect holder of approximately 92.2% of the outstanding depositary units representing limited partnership interests in Icahn Enterprises L.P. (&quot;Icahn Enterprises&quot;). Icahn Enterprises GP is the general partner of Icahn Enterprises, which is the sole limited partner of Icahn Enterprises Holdings.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">By virtue of their relationships to Icahn Enterprises Holdings, each of Icahn Enterprises GP, Beckton and Mr. Icahn may be deemed to indirectly beneficially own the shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock held directly by Icahn Enterprises Holdings. Each of the foregoing disclaims his or its beneficial ownership of such shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock except to the extent of his or its pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">American Entertainment Properties Corp. (&quot;AEP&quot;) is the direct beneficial owner of 3,075,663 shares of Class B Common Stock. Icahn Enterprises Holdings is the sole stockholder of AEP.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">By virtue of their relationships to AEP, each of Icahn Enterprises Holdings, Icahn Enterprises GP, Beckton and Mr. Icahn may be deemed to indirectly beneficially own the shares of Class B Common Stock held directly by AEP. Each of the foregoing disclaims his or its beneficial ownership of such shares of Class B Common Stock except to the extent of his or its pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/S/ Carl C. Icahn</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2021-03-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/S/ Icahn Enterprises Holdings L.P., by Icahn Enterprises G.P. Inc., its general partner, /S/ SungHwan Cho, Chief Financial Officer</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2021-03-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/S/ Icahn Enterprises G.P. Inc., /S/ SungHwan Cho, Chief Financial Officer</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2021-03-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/S/ Beckton Corp., /S/ Irene March, Executive Vice President</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2021-03-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
